The ancient Lion of Piraeus, was originally sculpted ca. 360 BC. It was located in the Athens port city of Piraeus, until 1687, when it was brought to Venice.
Following the chain of disasters at the end of the 11th century, the emperors of the Komnenian dynasty managed to restore the #RomanEmpire fortunes. It was not an easy task. To expel the Seljuks from Anatolia, emperor Alexios I had to ask for help from the West... /1 
Just look at the vibrant world and colourful costumes of the Gordeev medieval #LOTR characters. We should remember the Middle Ages were a far cry from Holywood's drab and grey world.
The so-called Crisis of the Third Century paralysed the Roman Empire. As the internal and external pressure mounted, no less than 24 (!) emperors exchanged at the throne, while at least 60 (!) men tried to claim it
By the first century BC, the Roman farmers were in utter confusion. The annual harvest celebrations, which happened in the Summer, kept arriving in the middle of Spring, many months before the harvest... 
In 401 BC, the Achaemenid or the Persian Empire was the largest and richest empire in the world.
After becoming the emperor, Justinian still faced the opposition. After all, his uncle Justin, was not a first choice of emperor for the aristocratic elite, who preferred a non-military choice. Justin was a man of low origin, a peasant who achieved high rank in the military. /1 
#HagiaSophia, one of the world's most magnificent buildings, has a tumultuous past.
The story of the Illyrian Provinces begins in 1809. the year in which Napoleon's Grande Armée defeated the Austrians at Wagram. 
Since the mid-fifth century AD, and the fall of Rome, the emperors in Constantinople dreamed of the reconquest of the former imperial territories lost to the barbarian kings. 
By the mid-10th century, the Abbasid Caliphate, the main rival of the #RomanEmpire in the East, lost most of its power. Yet, the situation for the Romans did not improve, as several smaller but mighty rulers took the place of the caliph, increasingly isolated in Baghdad. /1 
The #Byzantine civil war of 1341–47, sometimes referred to as the Second Palaiologan Civil War was a conflict that broke out following the death of Andronikos III Palaiologos. Both sides fought over the guardianship of the emperor's nine-year-old son and heir, John V. /1 
The latter half of the fifth century was chaotic for the Romans in the West. Emperor Majorian's failure to restore stability over the imperial territory led to his death and the end of all hopes to save the #Roman West from impending collapse. /1 
Vladimir, Prince of Kiev, was a sort of a pagan playboy with a harem of eight hundred. Ruthless and powerful, Vladimir subjugated much of the region known as Rus. Despite an increase of #Christianity among his subjects, he has erected many statues of his people’s ancient gods. /1 
Theophilos’ father was Michael II, a soldier from Amorium in Phrygia, western Anatolia, nowadays #Turkey. 
At the onset of the 19th century, Louisiana was about to become the heart of #France’s North American empire. The territory's capital New Orleans was a growing town, a cultural centre, and a major hub for Caribbean and Atlantic trade. /1 
The inhabitants of the “Byzantine Empire” called themselves “Rhomaoi” – the #Romans. And their Empire was known as “Basilea ton Rhomaion” or “The Empire of the Romans.” For the Rhomaoi, the infamous “Fall of Rome” was a mere whisper. /1 
But Theodora was more than a mere wife of emperor Justinian. In the treacherous world of court politics, Theodora was Justinian’s closest ally and most valuable advisor. In fact, Theodora wielded immense power, ruling as equal to her husband. /1 
A town founded in 753 BC at the banks of Tiber, by the first century BC, Rome turned into the most important city in the Mediterranean. Its optimal location, in the middle of #Italy, right in the centre of the Mediterranean basin, resulted in the rapid growth of the city. /1 
Then, your emperor, great #Hadrian, commands you and your unit to move. Not to the East, where you could still enjoy all benefits of civilization. Or to Africa, also a place to be. 
The long and devastating war between the #Sassanid and Roman Empire weakened both sides and undermined their defenses at a crucial moment when a new threat appeared on the horizon...